Editing Title sequence (section)

==Television==
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[[File:Calvin and the Colonel opening credits.webm|thumb|Opening credits and [[theme music]] to the television cartoon series ''[[Calvin and the Colonel]]'']]
Title sequences for television series have routinely played a central role in establishing the show's identity. Repeated at the beginning of every new and rebroadcast episode, usually with limited changes over the course of the series' run, they can become highly memorable. [[Theme music]] played during the sequence may be remembered clearly by viewers decades later.

Title sequences can take a variety of forms, incorporating different elements. A song may summarize the backstory or premise of the series, such as for ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'', ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'', or ''[[Mister Ed]]''. Less commonly, a [[voice-over]] may serve the same function, as for ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'', ''[[Quantum Leap (1989 TV series)|Quantum Leap]]'', or ''[[The Twilight Zone]]''. Often a song will more generally set the theme of the series, such as for ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', or ''[[All in the Family]]''. An instrumental piece may be used the same way, as for ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]'', ''[[The Bob Newhart Show]]'', or ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]''. A title sequence will at some point badge the show with a typographic logo. Visuals may be used to quickly present the backstory, as in ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'' or ''[[Gilligan's Island]]''. Because it is produced at the outset of a series, the sequence will usually include visuals taken from early episodes already shot when it was prepared. Short clips of key characters may be used to introduce them and to credit the actors playing them, as with ''[[The Love Boat]]''. In and around these elements may be other footage depicting the setting, or examples of scenes common to the show (e.g. car chases for a police drama, household activities for a sitcom, singing and dancing for a variety show).

Although a title sequence may be modified during a series to update cast changes or incorporate new "highlight" shots from later episodes, it will tend to remain largely the same for an entire season. Some shows have had several quite different title sequences and theme music throughout their runs, while in contrast some ever-popular shows have retained their original title sequences for decades with only minor alterations. Conversely, retaining a series' original title sequence can allow a producer to change many key elements within a programme itself, without losing the show's on-screen identity. Other variations include changing only the theme music whilst keeping the visuals or vice versa.

Some series make minor changes to the title sequence of each episode, such as superimposing a different episode title on each one. Others make minor alterations to the content of the sequence itself, to keep them from being completely repetitive each episode and to reward attentive viewers. For example, ''[[The Rockford Files]]'' would feature a different message left on the title character's [[answering machine]], and ''[[The Simpsons]]'' features [[The Simpsons opening sequence|several unique elements]] in the title sequence of each episode (e.g. the couch gag).

In [[anime]] series, opening and ending title sequences have evolved into a distinct art form in their own right: due to the running length of a half-hour block of programming on Japanese television providing more time for the actual episode as opposed to commercials, an episode is able to budget one-and-one-half minutes each for an OP (opening sequence) and ED (ending sequence). These will invariably feature pieces of vocal music, sometimes sung by members of the voice cast for the program, and will have unique animation that thematically serves to open and close the episode; often, guest animators will be brought in to direct and provide key animation for these sequences. The OP credits will usually include director, producer, animation director, studio, music, and OP animation credits: detailed staff and voice cast is almost always reserved for the ED. In anime produced primarily for an audience of young children, [[karaoke]] lyrics to the song will sometimes be provided at the bottom of the opening and ending sequences. For further information on anime openings, see [[Music in Japanese animation]].

Television specials, especially of classic works, sometimes contain unusual opening credit sequences. In the title sequence of [[Mikhail Baryshnikov]]'s 1977 version of [[Tchaikovsky]]'s ballet ''[[The Nutcracker]]'', for example, we see closeups, freeze-frame and slow-motion shots of Baryshnikov and female lead [[Gelsey Kirkland]] "warming up" for the ballet. When the actual title appears on the screen we see Baryshnikov in his nutcracker costume and mask leaping into the air in slow motion and freeze frame. The "Overture Miniature" is heard during the opening credits.

In contemporary television news a title sequence can be changed every day, by including footage of that day's news with a presenter's voice "teasing" the items. This ensures that the title sequence appears fresh but still identifies the news program by its music and visual style.

In 2010, ''TV Guide'' published a list of American TV's top 10 credits sequences, as selected by readers. The series, in order of first to tenth, were: ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Get Smart]]'', ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'', the original ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[True Blood]]'', ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''[[Dexter (TV series)|Dexter]]'', ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'', ''[[Mad Men]]'', and ''[[The Sopranos]]''.